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Penelope Soto, the woman who flipped off a Miami-Dade County judge in Florida, made another appearance in court Monday morning.
Soto, 18, attended a status hearing where it was revealed she's passed eight drug tests and has attended all counseling sessions following her arrest earlier this month.
"Eight out of eight, that's perfect, congratulations!" Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeffrey Rosinek told Soto.
She smiled as the judge applauded her efforts and wished her continued success in the drug program.
It was a stark contrast from her first appearance, when Soto made national headlines for flipping the bird at Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat during her bond hearing, which cost her a 30-day jail sentence for contempt of court.
Video: See woman give judge the middle finger
In a later hearing, Soto completely changed her attitude, and in tears publicly apologized for her behavior – telling the judge that she was wrong for insulting him.
Rodriguez-Chomat dropped the 30-day sentence and allowed Soto to post bond.
On Monday, Judge Rosinek ended the hearing by sending Soto off on a positive note.
"Ms. Soto, congratulations, I think lots of things have changed for you, for one, you smile now, which we didn't see before, and I wish you well in the program," he said. "Congratulations again."
Soto wouldn't answer questions in the courthouse hallway.
Woman who flipped off judge, apologizes
Soto was charged with 26 counts of Xanax possession. It was her first criminal offense.
She's due back in court on March 22.
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That judge didn't let her off the contempt charge because of her apology. He created that confrontation with his unprofessional conduct and he was caught by the way it went viral. No judge says "by" like that and then raises your bond out of vengence for a reply like "adios." She was unrepresented and bond is not to be used as a sentence. He was playing his race card. He was wrong and he knew it.
The judge played no race card, the intoxicated youth did by using "adios" in a disrespectful manner to a judge who just had given her a chance to change her ways rather than face jail time. You don't talk back to a judge, period, without possible consequences. Its not a cordial meeting, its a court room and defendants are required to show 100% respect or get the wrath of the court. Flipping the judge off was the final straw, so she got what she deserved. If I was appearing in a Latino court in let's say Mexico, I wouldn't respond to a judge by saying "bye-bye". Get a grip, Moakler
That is really idiotic. The judge didn't do ANYTHING inappropriate. I don't care what race the person is, you can NOT justify giving a judge the finger in court. He should have made her serve her 30 day sentence for contempt even if she did apologize. You shouldn't get off just for saying, "sorry." She needed to be an example of, plain and simple.
That's bs tracontech. Soto is a Mexican surname. Adios is Spanish for farewell. If anyone was being disrespectful, it was the judge telling her "Bye Bye" and waving her off. He came off as a total a-hole. He then felt the need to serve his own justice because as a judge, he feels he is god of his court and change her bail from 5k-10k. 30-days of contempt was ridiculous for flipping that idiot off.
I am a person without any record, including 0 speeding tickets in my life. I'm not saying the above as a criminal, past or present, who hates law enforcement.
ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.................... successful.
@ fwc577 post 1.4,
Just because you've never been caught or like you say you've never broken the law doesn't mean you don't need to have your attitude adjusted as this girl did. Hopefully one day you'll get your chance to tell a judge how perfect you are.
First of all, he didn't care about the finger. He heard her say F-You, as she walked away. He called her back and asked her if she said it, and she said yes. That's why he gave her 30 days in jail.
And adios, is a proper word to use when you are saying goodby to someone in Spanish. I would have went with, Hasta la vista, baby.
Race card...??
They're both hispanic...
Not even close. He was getting her attention. Which at this point, it looks like he did. Time will tell....
I'm not sure how anyone could think this had anything to do with "the race card" since the sentencing judge is Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat and the girl is Penelope Soto. As far as I can tell both are Hispanic names. The "adios" really had nothing or very little to do with the bond being raised, it was her blatant disrespect of the judge and the court at large. When she then "flipped the bird" at the judge he then got her for contempt which she absolutely deserved.
While I have never been before a judge in a criminal case I have served on jury duty several times and nobody, and I mean NOBODY is allowed to disrespect the judge. This young woman needed an attitude adjustment and the judge obliged her. It's nice to see that the attitude adjustment has worked.
The real tragedy is that many teens will emulate her behavior and act like disrespectful ass munches in the quest for "pseudo fame." $20 says she'll be on a "reality" show within six months. What happened to kids getting "attention" for good grades and/or hard work?
Looks more like she was scared straight when she had time to cool her heels in the crowbar hotel and figured out where she was headed if she didn't clean up her act.
Race had nothing to do with it. You sir are an idiot. The judge taught her lesson. She's cleaned up her act, and the circumstances that have unfolded, probably saved her life. Dope is a tough row to hoe, she is the only one that can save herself by staying clean & sober. Next thing you know she will be attending college. I hope she makes it.
LOL @ playing the race card when the judge is the exact same race as the defendant.
Who is she kidding?
You can see in the video she is trying to hold back from laughing!
The judge is blind as a bat.
I know it's time to buy a farm and dig a well when I read some of the idiots who want to DEFEND this girls actions. Or worse yet, play the "knee jerk" RACE card.
I could care less about this girl and her 15 minutes of fame (infamy is better said). I do HOWEVER, seriously worry about some people on here and what they are teaching their children.
@C. Moakler - I was with you all the way until the race card... Not everything is racial. He was/is on a power trip being in the Judge chair. This case got his attitude caught is all...
To many hating on her. Why? Her actions at second appearence do not indicate she is some type of thug, just another dumb 18 yr old who made a silly mistake. And hey, if someone offers her a few bucks to go on TV, so what? If kim Kardashian can make millions doing nothing , why not this girl?
That's one dumb judge. Of course she's a little sweetheart now. She passed the drug tests because she knew she had to. The little Xan heads first response was her real one. She probably laughed and shot him another one as soon as she cleared the door. She played that judge like a harp from hell. How big of a loser do you have to be to start yelling race card on this one? Some people will never get it or give it a rest. If things don't go their way it's a race thing.
These days losers get trophies too.....which in the long run makes us all losers.
No one would make a TV show about kids who "do their homework and get good grades". Mainly, because it would be boring. The fun part about reality TV is watching idiots like this kid mess up and then laugh at them. They are not meant to be emulated (that's where the tricky thing called parenting comes in), it's entertainment.
She played the judge. She is no doubt going to laugh all the way to the bank when some producer offers her 15 more seconds of fame.
bigdogmom1
I think you're right.
Courts rely on respect and judges need to enforce respect on people. The reason why everyone needs to stand up and be quiet when the judge walks in. Its not because of superiority but out of respect for our nation's laws.
The judge wasn't vindictive, and he wanted to teach her a lesson and maybe scare her a bit at the beginning. I think she was a real a real A$$
That is what good old discipline does for an out of control teen.
Ms. Soto needed a parent/parents to handle her in such a way---Congratulations to the Judge, and congratulations to Ms. Soto--
"Alls Well that Ends Well".
Before anyone gets too excited, let's see where she is in a year, and my $$ is NOT on her!
for all those critizing the judge, here's the fact, in the court room he is essentially God, he can't sentence you to death, but he can do a damn damn on you if you disrespect the bench he is sitting on, so when you go into a courtroom remember that one thing and carry yourself appropriately
This isn't the last we've heard of this chick. She'll be back in the news soon and it won't be for passing another series of drug tests.
and she took the high road.
A-holes always rise to the surface after that.
What did the judge do wrong genius, do you just hate authority?
She was made to fix her act or spend more time in jail. She doesn't have a right to disrespect a judge. It shows poorly on who she is, who she was raised by and what her character is when she acted disrespectful.
Too bad judges aren't allowed to smack smart ass teenagers who think they can "do what they want" and get away with it.
If she was going to get caned (like they do in China), I wonder how quick she would've been to flip the bird at anyone, let alone a judge!
That is what a good old discipline does for an out of control teen. Ms. Soto needed a parent/parents to handle her in such a way.
Congratulations to the Judge, and Congratulations to Ms. Soto.
"Alls Well That Ends Well".
the judge did the right thing both times, and demonseed believes keeping her wallowing in her own vomit reflects 'the high moral ground.'
Anyone with an iota of acting talent and an IQ over 10 can figure out that if they're tired of living in jail what they have to do. She probably also had a lawyer or counselor give her some tips on impressing the judge. Not saying she wasn't sincere; just that the media is making some huge deal of the fact that she combed her hair and learned to say "Yes sir" and "No sir." My reaction is "no @!$%#, sherlock." My only question is how many days did she stay in jail before she decided she'd had enough. If the judge was actually an snowed as the article makes it sound by her "transformation," he hasn't been on the bench long. Contempt of court is an interesting charge---it's basically used for the express purpose of breaking down someone's defiance, and if they continue to defy the judge, they can be kept locked up literally forever. Most people would rather get on with their lives, whatever that means to them. Any sane person would have done the same.
It appears that this young woman has at least learned to conduct herself as if she is an upstanding member of society.
Whether she actually has changed her attitude and what she does or only has changed what she shows to the world is irrelevant. The result is the same, she is no longer doing criminal activities and she is courteous to the judge.
If a person who was rude and doing crimes stops being rude and stops doing crimes are they still a rude criminal?
She's an 18 year old kid....we all did dumb things at that age........she is climbing back, I give her lots of credit !
you cannot rehabilitate a drug user, only force them to stop using temporarily. Anyone who uses to the point of causing problems in their life is going to use again, especially if its Meth or Cocaine
Drug users can be rehabilitated but if and only if they want it.
Give her a week or 2 ....she'll be back...............
So, the author of this article is basically saying that she will REPEAT and be back in court.
I say.....give her a month.
SCARED STRAIGHT.
A little time in jail might have made an impression.
It is xanax not meth or cocaine. Saying it was her first offense does not imply she will repeat. That is a strange assertion. Ido has no clue.
Wow...pointing out it's xanax like it's no big deal sounds naive. BTW, why do you think she was doing xanax in the first place. I'd bet every dollar I own that there were other drugs involved...just not caught with.
4 years clean from the hard stuff. Ya'll are haters! People get sober and stay sober they just need a reason, and apparently you guys werent reason enough for whoever you knew.
traconpig -- tell that to thousands of people in 12 step programs who've died sober after more than 25 years clean.
If ignorance is bliss, your must be a have a perpetual smile on your face. Any drug addiction can and has been overcome . I commend this young woman for having taken the high road and reversing a bad trend.
I find it amusing the comments from people who say drug addicts cannot be rehabilitated. I guess you must have performed exstensive research with endless focus groups so that after 10 years you can rightly make that comment. You haven't done any focus groups? You haven't extensive research? Then clearly you don't know what the hell you are talking about. To make a blanket staterment like that shows your abject stupidity and your total lack of knowledge and the drugs they used. I worked with these for over 20 years and many stayed clean. Yes, they are one step away from relapsing but many have good support systems and realize they must attend meetings for the rest of their lives. But thanks for the incredibly stupid comment. Its not wonder some fail.
First, it wasn't meth or cocaine. It was a class 3 non-narcotic mild tranquilizer that the system has decided to demonize, probably because it's gone off-patent and Big Pharma isn't making much of a profit on it any more. Don't worry, they'll be out with a newer and better replacement that will cost 20 times as much that won't have the stigma that Xanax has these days. Between the DEA and Big Pharma, we have become the largest incarcerator of our citizenry in the known history of the world, except for Hitler. Our incarceration rate has now even exceeded Stalin's at the worst of his excesses.
Second, nobody ever said the girl was an addict. Lots of people are recreationally using drugs like Xanax that aren't addicts. Also, thousands of people have a few pills they keep around to take for the uses they're actually prescribed. But many don't have the hundreds of dollars it takes to visit a doctor and fill a prescription, so they get a few from their grandma or aunt or a friend. 26 Xanax pills shouldn't even be a felony, and in most countries in the world, you can buy them over the counter.
Good looking young woman.
And, she's 18.
That "26 counts" is ridiculous. What, did they charge her with a separate felony for each pill? That's typical of police and prosecutors these days. Nobody wants to go to trial, so they over-prosecute in such an extreme manner that the defendent feels they have no option other than to plea bargain and plead guilty to what amounts to a really, really minor crime. Xanax is a prescription drug that is all over the place. It isn't heroin or cocaine or crystal meth; it's a pill that almost anyone can get a prescription for. If a prosecutor over-charged me with 26 charges for a bottle of pretty innocuous pills and threatened me with decades in prison, as I'm sure they did this girl, I'd of flipped somebody off too. Where I live, gang members routinely get 30 days in the county jail for shooting and stabbing people, after the plea bargaining is done. But someone with a Vicodin in the wrong bottle---even if they have a prescription for it---can send a mother with three kids to prison for 5 years. We have such great priorities in our society about what is and what isn't important.
The judge is not an A******. I don't blame him for being ticked off; what she initially did (give him the finger) was just plain damn rude! I am glad that she has apparently had an attitude adjustment; I hope it was sincere and that she learned that life is not like high school where you can tell the teacher to F off and nothing is done to you.
do you know anyone who hasn't been given the finger, or anyone who has who has been harmed by it? The judge did the right thing, and respected the right things, both times.
She's just a kid! She made a super mistake when HIGH and flipped off the judge. Bad mistake - but make her serve a few days in jail, then let her out with an apology like the judge did. This incredibly beautiful young woman has her whole life ahead of her! It's not like she's a drug dealer, for goodness sake! She is a goddess who should be meeting a very rich, successful man, and having babies with him!
You're kidding right? Said it before and will say it again, NO ACCOUNTABILITY! I don't care how big of a jerk the judge came across as, as a dumb little criminal, you stand there, answer questions, and show some respect. It's ok for this little heathen child to disrespect a judge in court just b/c she is blessed with looks? She can't even answer simple questions and treats the whole thing like a joke after charged with a serious violation. She flips the judge off and then brilliantly blurts out "F@## you" - the judge should have ordered her parents to court to jerk her pants down and whip that smart little a$$ - she obviously missed out on this while she was younger. Just b/c she is now suddenly sorry and a perfect citizen she should go unpunished? She should be held accountable for her actions
right hasbeen... So are you going to sit there and tell everyone on the internet that you were perfect as a kid and never acted up in the slightest bit? People make mistakes, they learn and overcome. Sounds like rehabilitation worked for her. Just a word of advice, try to keep your abusive tendencies to yourself.
A goddess?...My, but your standards are low....
She's 18 you moron, old enough to vote, serve her country and in some states drink legally. At what age does one need to start acting like a mature grown up? (a kid! crap)
Well, read the story above, gundoo, she has grown up, she acknowledged her wrongdoing,passed 6 drug tests,and is exhibiting mature behavior...a sign that this has been a good learning experience for her....now, YOU need to deal with your own anger issues,which are apparent in your comments.
She was just very much a smart a$$ with an attitude and that attitude came across in the tone of her voice when she said "adios" in a very flippant manner, snotty manner. The tone of her voice made the judge call her back to the bench and then once she dared curse at him and flip him off, she had really crossed the line. I am glad to see that her attitude has improved since her first day in court. I wish her well.
Those judges are giving that pretty girl of taking that step forward to redeem herself. Should she fail, send her to my Jurassic Park paddock. I'll eat her. Bwahahahahaha!
And another hoodrat fools another judge.
I agree with Moakler (above). Justice is suppose to be blind. Because you don't like someone or someone is flippant with you, you can't just throw 30 days on. If that girl was flippant with a cop and the cop expressed that in court, the judge wouldn't throw on 30 days and the cop is more at risk in the criminal justice system and deserving of respect. Some judges really think they are mini gods. They don't follow the law, they follow their bloated opinion of themselves.
@News - it's called contempt of court. Anyone, including lawyers, criminals, jurors, bystanders, etc. can be held in contempt of court and it is usually a jail sentence served immediately. The judge was probably a little hot headed but I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing in his shoes. This little snotty girl needed a "come to Jesus moment" and he gave it to her. Good for him and I hope it really did help Miss Soto understand that you just can't do and say whatever you want whenever you want and that she will learn to respect people a little more.
A judge can do exactly what he did, she was visibly in contempt of court. Justice being blind refers to an unbiased weighing of evidence, not ignoring the obvious.
You didn't fail any drug tests! Well, good for you! It's all smiles and congratulations now, and all for not flipping off a judge and doing something normal people are supposed to do anyway...
Give me a break...
Who said she was normal? Just a spoiled brat, no upbringing or common sense but not stupid, knew enough or was taught enough to not piss off the judge this time. Maybe the judge screwed up by not letting the female cons scare the crap out of her. (better object lesson)
Hollywood here she comes ............
Hopefully she gets AIDS next time she goes out and tries to get more drugs.
really? no wonder your moniker.
And hopefully you'll use a condom so we don't have any more idiots like you running around. Better yet, if the EPA condemns that gene pool they scooped you out of we can be assured of one less pile of crap to have clean up.
And then gives it to you.............
I love that girl.. keep up the good work, I bet she is a real hoot to hang out with.
Good for her, I sincerely hope this was awake up call for the young lady and she will get on the right path
@ tracontech, first; drug users can be rehabilitated, second; I am an alcoholic, I have had many problems because of it, I have not had a drink in 13 months come the 28th of this month. I am not proud that I am an alcoholic but have no problems admitting it, I have come to terms with it and the idea of going day by day without drinking again is a struggle but it is something that I must do. Don't speak of something that you do not know, I am now back in school almost have my IT security networking degree and have a career. I also own my own business along with working 45-50 hours a week for my main job. I also know two ex addicts of cocaine that are clean and have been for 3+ years. They also have successful jobs and have never been in trouble since they have been clean so please think before you speak and do not pretend to know the details about a addict's life without knowing the person.
@Zach - congratulations on your sobriety! I think perhaps when people say drug addicts can't be rehabilitated they are talking about addicts who have not yet decided to rehabilitate. It is a long and hard road to sobriety and if the person's heart and mind are not into the rehabilitation they will most likely not succeed. It's something like losing weight - you can tell a person all you want about how their excess weight is harming them and the overweight person knows this too but until they are ready no amount of harassment or encouragement will make them lose the weight. It has to come from within.
Again, congratulations on your sobriety - it sounds like your life is really coming together for you. Best of luck.
well congrats man good to hear
A bigdogmom1, it is certainly in the person, I denied it for a few years but when I accepted it things just got easier. You have to want to change, accept responsibility for your actions even when you where under the influence since it was your choice to use. There are no "buts" only "I did that it is all on me"........Thank you also Will
taking responsibility for your power in whatever acquaints you with a more powerful persona instead of that powerless wimp who is always 'acted upon'. congrats from 25 years.
Major props for overcoming and being a great example to those who try and succeed. That idiot does not know you or you story so all he's doing is showing what happens when you play football without a helmet or the cord was was too tight. Keep up the good fight....I am sure many are inspired by your story.
Eight out of Eight times she passed her drug screen!. I guess i would have flipped him off too!. Of coarse if she was in a unfinished drug program i can see why he did this. Otherwise time served!! lol!
Why is Judge suppose to get angry at her when she said Adios and raise her bail to 10K from 5K; Judge himself said Adios later and she cannot get angry by flipping him off because thats the only thing she could do when she was angry.
Despite what the truth may be regarding her sincerity, she's a very attractive girl who could have the world, and I hope she gets off the drugs permanently.
I hope she stays strait but what are the odds? if she keeps the same friends she will continue to get the same results. She'll be back again and again. No i am not being racist. I get so tired of that being the escape clause.
you may hate liberals, but you've successfully defined insanity. so why do you raise any issue of race -- why do you project that into any response which might be offered? odds? the odds are life and death -- wallowing in your own vomit, a penal, mental or funeral parlor -- or life.
Last time I was in school adios = spanish for goodbye. Now, the flip of the finger is another animal all by itself and she got what she deserved on that one.
Adios ~ To ALL Judgie Poops! ..l..
guess who the next reality tv show star is
Hopefully the first judge really did make an impression on her to get her life in order. She's had 8 good checks, just maybe she learned something besides to not get caught again.
Good Luck Ms Solo, Good Luck! Life's great...if you don't weaken!
Amazing at how some people here blame the original judge for her downfall and behavior. F*(king idiots!!! Look at how the drug treatment has changed her. I hope her continued success and hopefully she will have a full and meaningful life. The rest of you that blame the judge are the biggest morons.
Nobody is blaming the judge for anything other than being a juvenile moron himself. He is an embarrassment to the legal system by antagonizing a very young woman who was obviously on something. What a mental giant he is to encourage someone acting dumb to be more dumb. With such a high level of acuity, it's amazing he's still judging cases like this at his age.
yeah, she apologized for her behavior, its florida, i guess she figures if Casey Anthony can lie through her case, then she can lie too. I'm sorry, I really mean it.....really really ,what that means is she's sorry she got caught.
you obviously have not been the reason anyone close to you stopped using.
Mr Pomeroy.....in prison we call that a one hitter quitter. You smacked them with your words.....and they went down. That was beautiful. You've got game for sure!!